---
title: lithosphere — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lithosphere» in the school dictionary: The lithosphere is the hard, rocky outer layer of the Earth: the crust plus the very top part of the mantle, about 100 km thick, broken into tectonic plates. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lithosphere

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** lithosphere, Earthquakes, softer layer, Rocks · **What happens:** be, break, include, happen, float, call · **To what, where:** hard rocky outer layer, tectonic plates, lithosphere, crust, parts, softer layer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«lithosphere» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [lithosphere in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lithosphere.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lithosphere is the hard, rocky outer layer of the Earth: the crust plus the very top part of the mantle, about 100 km thick, broken into tectonic plates.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lithosphere:m1:1
# text = The lithosphere is the hard, rocky outer layer of the Earth: the crust plus the very top part of the mantle, about 100 km thick, broken into tectonic plates.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lithosphere	lithosphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	rocky	rocky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	outer	outer	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	crust	crust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
16	plus	plus	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
18	very	very	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	mantle	mantle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
25	about	about	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
26	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	27	nummod	_	_
27	km	km	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	obl:unmarked	_	_
28	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
30	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	28	conj	_	_
31	into	into	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	tectonic	tectonic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	compound	_	_
33	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	30	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the lithosphere | the hard rocky outer layer and the crust plus the top part of the mantle |  |  |  | of the Earth | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | participle | the lithosphere *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into tectonic plates *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Patient into plate=Result |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lithosphere is broken into tectonic plates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lithosphere:x1:1
# text = The lithosphere is broken into tectonic plates.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lithosphere	lithosphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	tectonic	tectonic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | present · passive |  | the lithosphere |  |  |  | into tectonic plates *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: subject=Patient into plate=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lithosphere includes the crust and the top of the mantle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lithosphere:x2:1
# text = The lithosphere includes the crust and the top of the mantle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lithosphere	lithosphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	includes	include	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	crust	crust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	mantle	mantle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | present | the lithosphere | the crust and the top of the mantle |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crust=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earthquakes happen when parts of the lithosphere move.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lithosphere:x3:1
# text = Earthquakes happen when parts of the lithosphere move.
1	Earthquakes	earthquake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	happen	happen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	lithosphere	lithosphere	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	move	move	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | Earthquakes | parts of the lithosphere move |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lithosphere floats on a softer layer called the asthenosphere.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lithosphere:x4:1
# text = The lithosphere floats on a softer layer called the asthenosphere.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lithosphere	lithosphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	floats	float	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	softer	soft	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	asthenosphere	asthenosphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **float** | present | the lithosphere |  |  | a softer layer |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on layer=Trajectory |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a softer layer *not said here* | the asthenosphere |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent asthenosphere=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rocks, mountains and soil are part of the lithosphere.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lithosphere:x5:1
# text = Rocks, mountains and soil are part of the lithosphere.
1	Rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lithosphere	lithosphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Rocks and mountains and soil | part |  |  |  | of the lithosphere | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lithosphere is thinner under the oceans than under continents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lithosphere:x6:1
# text = The lithosphere is thinner under the oceans than under continents.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lithosphere	lithosphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	thinner	thin	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	oceans	ocean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	continents	continent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the lithosphere |  |  | the oceans |  | than continents; thin *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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